As we start the new year here at Vineyard Community Church, we are also starting a new chapter in the life of our community. For nearly 25 years, Mark Warner has faithfully served as lead pastor of our church. For the last 9 months we have been gradually transitioning the lead pastor role, with Mark releasing to me more and more of the lead pastor responsibilities. Now, at the start of this year, I officially step into this role as your new lead pastor. Mark Warner is settling into his new role as pastor of spiritual formation and connections.
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
We certainly aren’t the first to do it, but it just isn’t common. Peter Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, did it at his church. Church leadership guru, Carey Nieuwhof, did a similar pastoral transition at his church. Some of you may know of John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Practicing the Way. He did this kind of transition with Tyler Staton at the church he started, Bridgetown church in Oregon. Mark Warner and I got to steal some ideas from them and learn from their successful transitions.
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson
As we start the new year here at Vineyard Community Church, we are also starting a new chapter in the life of our community. For nearly 25 years, Mark Warner has faithful served as lead pastor of our church. For the last 9 months we have been gradually transitioning the lead pastor role, with Mark releasing to me more and more of the lead pastor responsibilities. Now, at the start of this year, I officially step into this role as your new lead pastor. Mark Warner is settling into his new role as pastor of spiritual formation and connections.
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
We certainly aren’t the first to do it, but it just isn’t common. Peter Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, did it at his church. Church leadership guru, Carey Nieuwhof, did a similar pastoral transition at his church. Some of you may know of John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Practicing the Way. He did this kind of transition with Tyler Staton at the church he started, Bridgetown church in Oregon. Mark Warner and I got to steal some ideas from them and learn from their successful transitions.
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
We certainly aren’t the first to do it, but it just isn’t common. Peter Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, did it at his church. Church leadership guru, Carey Nieuwhof, did a similar pastoral transition at his church. Some of you may know of John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Practicing the Way. He did this kind of transition with Tyler Staton at the church he started, Bridgetown church in Oregon. Mark Warner and I got to steal some ideas from them and learn from their successful transitions.
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson
As we start the new year here at Vineyard Community Church, we are also starting a new chapter in the life of our community. For nearly 25 years, Mark Warner has faithful served as lead pastor of our church. For the last 9 months we have been gradually transitioning the lead pastor role, with Mark releasing to me more and more of the lead pastor responsibilities. Now, at the start of this year, I officially step into this role as your new lead pastor. Mark Warner is settling into his new role as pastor of spiritual formation and connections.
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
We certainly aren’t the first to do it, but it just isn’t common. Peter Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, did it at his church. Church leadership guru, Carey Nieuwhof, did a similar pastoral transition at his church. Some of you may know of John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Practicing the Way. He did this kind of transition with Tyler Staton at the church he started, Bridgetown church in Oregon. Mark Warner and I got to steal some ideas from them and learn from their successful transitions.
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson
I was reflecting on this healthy transition and how rare it really is. One of the miracles of modern democracy is a principle known as “the peaceful transfer of power.” This is something really rare in the history of geopolitics and something that makes the United States somewhat unique. One president transfers power to the next without a bloody revolution or a military coup, even if they are political rivals.
One might assume that the peaceful transfer of power between pastors should be a given. Yet, so often it doesn’t happen. A healthy passing of the baton from one lead pastor to the next is unusually rare in the life of the American church. Sometimes the baton gets dropped and a long season of a pastoral search committee ensues. Sometimes the baton never gets passed at all until the church has to close its doors. For the current lead pastor to pass the baton with joy and excitement to the next lead pastor is a rare thing.
We certainly aren’t the first to do it, but it just isn’t common. Peter Scazzero, the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, did it at his church. Church leadership guru, Carey Nieuwhof, did a similar pastoral transition at his church. Some of you may know of John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Practicing the Way. He did this kind of transition with Tyler Staton at the church he started, Bridgetown church in Oregon. Mark Warner and I got to steal some ideas from them and learn from their successful transitions.
So, as we start this new year, we are now entering a brand-new season here at VCC. I feel honored and blessed to be able to step into this role as your new lead pastor. This is a great church with a great legacy, and I believe God has really good things for us in the years ahead. I believe that as we continue to be grounded in the word of God and rooted in the love of the Father, we will become conduits of the power of the Holy Spirit offering the hope of Christ to a hurting world.
With excited anticipation,
Mark Stephenson